NOVEL NEXT WORLD Chapter 133:
Chapter 133: Oriental Poison:
Saying goodbye to the old and welcoming the new—that was the essence of the New Year.
For countless suffering people, it’s a time for hope, a prayer for better days. Though Xu Xi couldn’t yet provide the Qihuo Army with a life of happiness and comfort, he felt that on this special day, he could still do something meaningful.
For instance, he decided to ensure everyone had a”good” meal.
“A Niu, catch those chickens!”
“Goudan, hurry up, surround them!”
“Chase! Chase them down!”
In the outskirts of Pingshui County, Xu Xi led a large group of hungry, weather-beaten people. They had set up massive iron pots, pouring water and rice into them. Not far away, A Niu and others were busy catching free-range chickens.
With practiced efficiency, they quickly secured the birds.
Once caught, the chickens were carefully prepared—plucked, cleaned, and chopped into tiny pieces, bones included. There were too many people in the army to feed them all meat. Xu Xi’s solution was to scatter the chicken throughout the rice soup so everyone could get a taste of it.
In reality, even the rice wasn’t sufficient. Water had to be added—lots of it. And when the rice ran out, wheat bran was mixed in.
Wheat bran wasn’t tasty, but to the starving people, it was a rare delicacy compared to the cold, bitter-tasting demon meat they were used to.
“BOOM!”
“BOOM!”
Under Xu Xi’s watchful gaze, the fires beneath more than a dozen large iron pots burned fiercely, crackling as they licked the bottoms of the pots. The heat spread, gradually bringing the water inside to a boil.
Someone stepped forward and sprinkled a pinch of salt into the bubbling pots. The rising steam and sizzling fire created a misty warmth that drew people in.
Before long, a crowd began gathering around the cauldrons. They stared intently at the boiling water, their throats moving as they swallowed hard, trying to suppress the pangs of hunger.
The rice soup smelled bland. The excessive water diluted the already scarce chicken and salt, leaving little trace of their flavor. What wafted through the air was mostly just water vapor.
Yet, the people’s eyes gleamed with anticipation.
To them, it was a treasure. They resisted their growling stomachs and waited patiently for the rice soup to finish cooking.
Finally, the soup was ready.
Everyone turned their eyes to Xu Xi. At his nod, they rushed forward to scoop up their share.
The rice soup was hot—90% of it was water—but it was enough to make people cry as they drank. The heat scalded their mouths, and the water seemed to burn its way through their bodies, yet they kept drinking.
“Brother Xu, it’s so hot!” A Niu exclaimed, holding his bowl in his rough hands. Despite the heat, he couldn’t stop himself from sipping eagerly.
“It’s delicious,” he said simply after finishing, licking his lips with satisfaction. He even licked the edges of the bowl clean, unwilling to let a single drop go to waste.
“Do you like it, A Niu?” Xu Xi asked with a smile.
“Yes, I do!” A Niu nodded earnestly.
“That’s good,” Xu Xi replied.”But try not to rush next time.”
“Hehe, I’ll remember, Brother Xu!” A Niu scratched his head, grinning, before scooping up another bowl to bring to his mother.
Despite the endless demand, the rice soup was limited. Even with the constant addition of water, there was only enough for each person to have one small bowl. Yet, no one complained. After enjoying the soup, they happily gnawed on the tough demon meat, their hearts warmed by the meal.
The once-dead eyes of these people now sparkled with a glimmer of hope, rekindled by a simple bowl of soup.
“It will get better in the future…” Xu Xi murmured as he watched the crowd, their smiles lifting his spirits.
But his responsibilities called him back.
“There’s still a mountain of government affairs to handle,” he thought.”And my skills—I need to study further. I have a feeling the next realm isn’t far off.”
He turned to leave but was stopped by shouts from A Niu and the others. They ran over, carrying a large plate with two plump chicken legs in the center.
“This is for Mr. Xu and Ms. Wu Xiao,” they said enthusiastically, urging Xu Xi to accept.
Xu Xi hesitated but saw the hopeful looks in their eyes. He couldn’t refuse their kindness.
With a smile, he used Gang Qi to slice a piece from one of the chicken legs and popped it into his mouth.
“It’s so good,” he said as the juices burst in his mouth. Despite the lack of seasoning, the chicken tasted incredibly flavorful.
“This is amazing,” he muttered, realizing that the true flavor came not from spices but from the heartfelt effort and gratitude of the people. It was an intangible quality—an”oriental poison” of sorts—that made it irresistible.
But reason quickly reminded him of the bigger picture.
If he ate more, it wouldn’t make much difference to him. But for these suffering people, this might be the only meat they’d have all year.
He wrapped the remaining chicken leg with Gang Qi and prepared to return to the county.
“Yingxue deserves this,” he thought.”She’s worked tirelessly—helping hunt demons for food and assisting with government affairs. If anyone deserves a reward, it’s her.”
He moved swiftly, reaching Wu Yingxue’s residence in no time. But to his surprise, the house was empty and dark, not even a candle lit.
“Strange, she’s not home?” he wondered.
Confused, he returned to the official residence and pushed open the creaking wooden door. Inside, he found Wu Yingxue sound asleep at the desk, surrounded by stacks of unfinished documents.